Every Wednesday The CSPH highlights a Sexuality Professional you should keep your eye on. Their backgrounds are very diverse in order to bring attention to the wide variety of amazing people working in the field. This week we bring you Betty Dodson!
1. What do you do in the field of sexuality?
I primarily work with women to help them appreciate the beauty of their vulvas and learn about orgasm by teaching masturbation skills. I ran Bodysex Workshops for 25 years and have recently agreed to do fall and spring groups. Otherwise, I offer Private Sessions that last an entire afternoon. I suggest you Google me for more extensive information.
2. Where are you based out of?
Midtown Manhattan NYC
3. What is your focus? What do you do?
I teach women to appreciate their vulvas, how to orgasm, and how to orgasm during partner sex.
4. What are your particular goals and passions in the field?
To re-instate the clitoris as a woman’s primary organ of pleasure and get society to move beyond the male model of sexual arousal that is currently being applied to women: That we should orgasm from penis/vagina intercourse which is the procreative model that works for very few women. I promote the combination orgasm: clitoral stimulation with vaginal penetration at the same time.
5. Why did you choose to work in this field?
I suggest you read my best selling book, Sex for One. As a feminist my vulva shame and personal struggle to be orgasmic in partnersex was a big part ofwhat motivated me.
6. Where did you go for school/training?
A valuable part of my schooling was being part of Americas Sexual Revolution during the sixties and seventies: Learning about sex by doing sex. Also my extensive field work running masturbation groups for women over a 25 year period. In 1994, I received a PhD in sexology from IASHS in San Francisco.
7. Do you have any literature out (websites, articles)?
I’ve written countless articles for National Magazines and newspapers. Interviewed on Network Television and many Cable appearances. First website launched in 1996. New interactive website launched in 2007 with Carlin Ross as an equal partner and executive editor of www.dodsonandross.com We now have 8m followers on our weekly You Tube series where we talk about different sexual topics based on the many questions we get from people around the world on a daily bases. Ask Dr. Betty will be an e-book soon.
Current books available: My self-published book titled Liberating Masturbation: a Meditation on Selflove (71) became a feminist classic.
Sex for One: the Joy of Selfloving. (1987) Sold over a million copies including 15 foreign editions. The book is still in print 25 years later.
Orgasms for Two: the Joy of Partner Sex (2002) in print for ten years and is now available as an e-book
My Romantic Love Wars: a Sexual Memoir (2012) Self-published available in print and as an e-book.
I produced five DVD’s documenting my teaching that are still available.
Selfloving: Portrait of a Women’s Sexuality Seminar – released 1991
Celebrating Orgasm: Private Selfloving Sessions – released 1996
Viva la Vulva: Women’s Sex Organs Reveled – released 1998
Orgasmic Women – released 2005
The Orgasm Doctor: Two Private Sex Coaching Sessions with Betty Dodson – released 2007
Betty Dodson: Her Life of Sex and Art – released 2008
Betty Dodson’s Bodysex Workshop produced by Carlin Ross (remake of Selfloving) – released 2011
8. What would you recommend to future professionals attempting to get into the field?
Don’t be restricted by the fear that you will loose your license or certification if you stray from traditional paths. Question all authority. Be creative.
9. What is the most challenging aspect for you working in this career?
My most challenging aspect was leaving a successful fine art career to enter an unknown field. People’s response to my work as a sex educator: They just can’t hear enough about what I do so I talk about sex endlessly. I have come to enjoy this immensely.
10. One must read-what would you recommend? Why?
As a dyslexic I read very seldom due to my reading comprehensive disability. I believe my experience has been my best teacher. Read all books that appeal to you. Even more important is to have an active sex life and write about it in first person. Tell the truth.
NOTE: We do not necessarily endorse or agree with all the opinions of our featured Hump Day Heroes. If you have concerns over someone who is currently featured, please let us know by emailing aida@thecsph.org.
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